Case



March 18 1924. 1,487,006

G. S. BEERS CASE Filed Jan. 18 1919 INVENTOR GEORGE-S. BEERS.

FIELW ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 18, 1924.

ni' rar I GEORGE S. BEERS, E SO'UTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOH T0 AMERICANOP- 'I'IGAL COMPANY, OF SOUTHBR-IDGE, IVIASSAGHUSETTS, A VOLUNTARY ASSOCIA- TION 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

oasn.

Application filed January 18, 1919. Serial at. 271,787.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. Burns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Southbridge, in the county of l Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in self closing boxes, cases, or the like, and for in purposes of convenience has been illustrated in connection with a case particularly adapted for the retention of spectacles, eyeglasses or the like.

The leading object of the present invention is the provision of novel and improved means for retaining the cover of such a case in either opened or closed position, as desired, said means being of a resilient character and serving to snap the :case shut when the cover is given a slight initial'pressure or to lock the cover open when it is raised to the fullest extent. v

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel'and improved construction of spring which may be readily applied to existing types of cases and thus enable them to be fitted with more efficient operating means than they now possess.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a simple and unitary or one piece construction for the intended purpose.

Other objects and advantages of my improved construction should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and it will be understood that I may make any modifications in the specific details of construction shown and described within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or exceeding the spirit of my invention.

Figure I represents a view of the case in opened position. i

Figure II represents a perspective view of the spring removed.

Figure III represents a sectional view through the case and spring with the parts in closed position.

Figure IV represents a similar view of the parts in opened position.

Figure V represents a view of a slightly modified form of spring.

Figure VI represents a similar view show- ,hinge pintle 3 extendin' :ingthe position occupiedby the several parts of the spring when in use with the parts of the case in open position.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the lid or cover section of the case, which is connected with the body 2 of the case by the through ears 4 on the cover and 5 on the body section of the,

case in the usual manner. The cover in addition has extending reverselyor toward the tront edge thereof, either from behind .or around the hinge pintle,,the lip 6 adapted to engage the spring and unite it with the cover.

t will be understood, however,that in place of the 11p a pm or rivet/{such as shown in Figures V and VI, orother equivalentconstruction, may be made use of, the idea being to so connect the centerof the spring with the cover of the case that the spring'tension will normally fall against the member 6 or 7 as the case may be, to hold the cover shut.

To secure the spring to the bottom section 2 of the case I preferably make use of the lips or tongues 8, preferablycut and bent downwardly from the rear portion ofthe case secgaged beneath the lips 8 and extending inwardly toward the center of the case, each of said portions 9 terminating in an upwardly extending rearwardly curving L-portion 10, said portions 10 being connected by the resilient loop 11 forming the'central portion of the hook formed by the curving of the L portions 10, and aflording the desired resiliency for the spring, while at the same time the hook thus provided interlocks with the lip 6 on the cover 1 to securely connect the spring-thereto, as will be best understood by reference to Figures III and IV.

If preferred, in place of having a plain loop 11 connecting the portions 10, I may form the loop 11 as in the spiral 12, which spiral may either interlock with the lip 6, or in place of the provision of the lip 6 and rivet, stud or the like 7 may be engage within the spiral 12.

In either event, the general effect .of my spring is the same, in that as the cover is raised the central portion or hook part of the spring is lifted upward therewith tend ing to slightly flex the arms 9 to the extent that there is any binding of the lips 8 thereagainst, retarding their transverse vibration or play, while at the same time this raising of the hook will cause a flexing of the loop 11 or 12 and a drawing together of the angles of the L shaped arms, thus compressing or placing the spring loop under tension, as should be most clearly understood by a comparison of Figures I and II and Figures V and VI. The natural tendency of the spring loops in question is to open out or resume normal position and the tension pressed against the lip tends to close the cover. There is considerable loop or bend in the portions 10, and as a result as the cover is swung into its furtherest open position the loop swings around or about eficient spring formed from a single piece of material, which may be readily bent into form and which will readily inter-engage with the cover and body portions of an ordinary spectacle or eyeglass case, which will be compact in form, occupying minimum room in the case, and which will serve to satisfactorily hold the cover in raised or closed position, as may be desired.

I claim:

1. In a device of the'character described, the combination with a body portion and cover section united by a continuous hinge, one of said parts having a lip reversely extending around the hinge, of means for resiliently holding the parts in closed relation, said means comprising a single spring Wire member having a looped portion bent substantially into the form of a shepherds crook and interlocking with the lip on one side of the continuous hinge and having a pair of laterally extending terminal portions secured to the opposed member on the opposite side of the continuous hinge, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of hingedly united members having a continuous hinge portion, of means for holding said parts in closed position, said means comprising a resilient member centrally looped in the form of a resilient coil as viewed from the front, said loop being curved to fit around the hinge in substantially the shape of a question mark as viewed from the side, means for connecting the central portion of said loop with one of said parts and laterally extending termini on said member engaged with the other of said hinged parts for operatively securing the device in position. I

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE S. BEERS. Witnesses H. E. COLEMAN, I. W. VVILsoN. 

